MLB Player News

Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco entered Sunday 's game against the Blue Jays as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning -- making his first big league appearance at first base. He highlighted the moment with a home run leading off the eighth inning, which was his first since Aug. 26.

Red Sox third baseman Will Middlebrooks left Tuesday's game against Minnesota following a collision with catcher David Ross on a Chris Parmalee foul ball, WEEI.com reports. Middlebrooks initially remained in the game but was replaced in the top of the seventh by Pedro Ciriaco. 

Middlebrooks left with what the Red Sox deemed "right side pain." He was 0 for 2 with a strikeout and is batting .192 on the year with six home runs. 

Red Sox shortstop prospect Xander Bogaerts continues to dominate Double-A pitching. He has a seven-game hitting streak dating to April 22.

Bogaerts is hitting .400 (8 for 30) over the stretch with a homer, double and three triples. His overall line is .320/.394/.464 in 97 at-bats. Bogaerts was the eighth-best prospect in baseball entering the season according to Baseball America and will be worth watching as he continues to push through the minors.

Red Sox shortstop prospect Xander Bogaerts managed his fifth multi-hit game in his last eight outings Tuesday for Double-A Portland, raising his batting average to .395 (17 for 43) in his last 10 games. Bogaerts has a .311/.378/.405/.783 slash line through 17 games, while adding two triples, three doubles, six RBI and 11 runs.

Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco is in the starting lineup Thursday.

Ciriaco will play third and bat ninth. He's giving the struggling Will Middlebrooks a breather. Ciriaco will go against Indians pitcher Zach McAllister. 

Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco was given his first start at shortstop this season Saturday in Toronto with Jose Iglesias day to day with a forearm issue. 

Ciriaco was listed ninth in the order by manager John Farrell. He entered Friday's game as a pinch-hitter for Iglesias in the fourth inning and smacked an RBI single to shallow left field. He finished the game 2 for 4 and added a double. He also stole a base in the game. 

Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco made his first appearance of the season during Friday's series opener against the Blue Jays. Ciriaco came in for an injured Jose Iglesias, who suffered a right arm contusion, and made his presence felt.

He knocked in a run in the fourth inning and also added a double as he finished 2 for 4 with an RBI in a 6-4 victory. Ciriaco could see more time on the field depending on Iglesias' injury.

After receiving a look at the middle level toward the end of last season, Red Sox infield prospect Xander Bogaerts will begin the 2013 campaign at Double-A Portland, the Boston Globe reports. Bogaerts is regarded as the top prospect in the Red Sox organization by MLB.com -- even higher than outfielder Jackie Bradley -- and is expected to continue working as a shortstop with Portland.

Just 20 years old, Bogaerts displayed solid raw power with Class A Salem last season with 15 homers and 27 doubles en route to a .505 slugging percentage. He also went deep five times in 23 games following his late promotion to Double-A.

The Boston Red Sox made a few more cuts on Monday following a Grapefruit League loss to the Orioles. Boston reassigned shortstop and prospect Xander Bogaerts to minor-league camp. Infielders Drew Sutton and Jon Diaz will head to minor-league camp with Bogaerts. 

The 20-year-old Bogaerts hit .286 this spring after striking out in his only at-bat on Monday. He showed promise in the field and at the plate but the Red Sox weren't ready to let him go in the majors since he's never played above Double-A. He hit .326 over his final 92 at-bats last year with Double-A Portland after hitting .302 over 384 at-bats at Class A Salem. 

He is considered the No. 8 prospect in all of baseball by Baseball America to start the season. 

Red Sox infielder Pedro Ciriaco, who has been out with back spasms, was able to play in a Class A game on Monday, reports the Boston Globe. Ciriaco went 1-for-4 in that game with a double and two strikeouts. He should be considered healthy going forward.